Topical Tropes

These are what we call the 'YMMV items.' Things that some people find in this work. We call them 'your mileage might vary' because not everyone sees these things in the same way. This starts discussions in the trope lists, a thing we don't want. Please use the discussion page if you'd like to discuss any of these items.

Alternative Character Interpretation: Did Charlie really mean it when he told Itchy that they'd use Anne-Marie for all she was worth than then dump her in an orphanage, or was he just telling Itchy what he wanted to hear?

Awesome Music: Say what you will about the songs—or Burt Reynolds's skill at singing—but "Let Me Be Surprised" is pretty darn good.

Carface having access, however, to an actual laser pistol can be a bit odd as Schizo Tech.

Belladonna's part of I Always Get Emotional At Christmas Time. It really has nothing to do with the plot and kind of comes out of nowhere, as the musical number is Killer's until she shows up and her part is mainly just to make it longer. Not that its a bad thing, it works very well as a Villain Song.

Common Knowledge: Ironically, while King Gator's out of place music number sticks in people's mind, they generally forget that King Gator does, in fact, return to defeat Carface andattempt to save Charlie (who dies from losing his life watch, nevertheless). The musical number is so distracting that it's also easy to forget that the whole thing started out as an homage to King Kong.

Contested Sequel: While most fans of the first movie consider the second to be inferior because they say that it mostly lacks everything from the original, some say that it's a superior followup to the original because it's not depressing and it has a good story and catchy songs.

Critical Backlash: While the film has retroactively gained a loyal fanbase and good reception, the films initial release was widely panned by critics, so much so that Bluth's American tour to promote the film was ended very early, according to his online biography.

Cry for the Devil - Ghost Of Christmas Past in The Christmas Carol reveals that Carface had a rather tragic past that certainly makes one feel sorry for him.

Most Annoying Sound: Any time a non-singing actor is given a song, in both the original and the sequels. It's unfortunately the only thing all of them have in common.

The Problem with Licensed Games: The game on Amiga and DOS is just a collection of poorly programmed mini-games tied together with cutscenes. And the horrific ear-bleeding sound combined with the three colors it runs in practically defines Sensory Abuse.

So Okay, It's Average: Maybe not Bluth's best movie, but it's certainly not his worst. The sequel and TV show also have a sizable fan base of people who feel this way about it.

Uncanny Valley: Anne-Marie sometimes falls into this (keep in mind that, video games notwithstanding, this was Don Bluth's first time animating a major human character). Of particular note is that close-up shot of her close to the end, where she looks more like a porcelain doll that a human being.

What Do You Mean, It's for Kids?: This undoubtedly has to be Don Bluth's darkest film. It has relatively small "kid-friendly" scenes in between the controversial themes of gambling, first degree murder, theft, drinking, terrifying images of Hell and Satan, and the real clincher, killing the main protagonist at the end, which is unheard of in Western animation for children.

Charlie, though he can border on Jerkass Woobie at times also counts. After being put through hell and having to say goodbye to Anne-Marie with tears rolling down his face, he most definitely needs a hug.

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